Process of waterproofing fabrics.



No; 653,7I6. Patented July I7, I900. J. T. VAN GESTEL.

PROCESS OF WATERPROOFING FABRICS.

' (Application filed May 3, 1899.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

'No. 653,7!6. Patented my I7, 1900. .1. T. VAN GESTEL.

PROCESS OF WATERPROOFING FABRICS.

(Application filed May 3, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Witnesses:

nokms FEIEFI$ m. wowaumoq msmumuu u UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEAN THEODORE VAN GESTEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF WATERPROOFING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 653,716, dated July 17, 1900. Application filed May 3, 1899. Serial No. 715,469. (No specimens.)

T0 etZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN THEODORE VAN GEsTEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Process of Waterproofing Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process for treating fabrics electrogalvanically for the purpose of rendering them waterproof or for setting the dye therein.

Attempts to make fabrics waterproof and to set the dye therein by the use of the electric current have been made; but they have only partially succeeded or failed entirely. In one of these attempts the wet fabric was passed between an oxidizable anode and a cathode with the expectation that the anode would be oxidized and the oxid carried into the fabric. This attempt was ineffectual. In the present invention to efiect waterproofing the fabric is saturated in a bath of soluble metallic salts and then subjected to the action of the electric current, which causes an oxid of the metal to be formed in the interstices of the fabric. In fixing a dye the metallic salts are mingled with the dye in the goods under the influence of the electric current, thereby acting as a mordant in fixing the dye.

The invention therefore consists in the process substantially as above outlined and as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents in side elevation the entire apparatus designed for carrying out the invention. Fig. 2 represents a portion thereof in vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of a portion of the machine, parts of the apparatus being broken away. Fig. 4 is a diagram representing the electric circuits.

In practicing the invention it is preferable to pass an electric current through the bath of metallic salts while the fabric to be treated is immersed therein. By this means the salts are carried into the interstices of the fabric and more evenly distributed through it. In the accompanying drawings this preliminary bath is represented at 5, Figs. 1 and 4, the electric couple in this bath consisting forming the function of anode during the treatment of the fabric of the latter material. From this bath the cloth or fabric, as indicated at 8, is led through the apparatus in which the waterproofing or dye fixing is effected.

This apparatus may be constructed in any suitable way and has been formed in substantially the mannerindicated. It consists, preferably, of two sections, which are in effect counterparts of one another. These sections are represented at 9 and 10. Each consists of a suitable frame, on the top of which are wooden stringers 11. Between these stringers extend cross-pieces 12, Fig. 2, upon which is supported the table 13, which extends from one to the other of the stringers 11. This ta ble is preferably of wood, and upon it is fixed a series of metallic plates 14, preferably in the manner indicated in Fig. 3. These plates are connected to a conductor, as 15, to which one terminal of the circuit is connected, as by means of the binding-post 16.

At the ends of each of the sections 9 and 10 there are journaled drums or rollers 17 over which passes an endless belt 18, consisting of metallic plates hinged together substantially as shown. Similar rollers 19 are mounted in the plane above that of the rollers 17 and have passing over them an endless belt 20, constructed in the same manner as belt 18. Tension may be applied to the belt 18 through the adjusting-screws 21 and to the belt 20 by means of the adjusting-screws 22.

Under the table 13 and the rollers 17 is placed a trough, as 23, which may be partially filled with water, through which the belt may pass to keep it clean. The rollers 17 and 19 are shown as octagonal, each facet corresponding to the width of the plates in the belts 18 and 20. This simply exemplifies one means by which these endless belts may be made to travel. Power may be applied to these rollers in any suitable waysuch, for instance, as by belts or chains 24, which pass around pulleys on the ends'of the shaft of the pairs of rollers 17, as indicated in Fig. 1,

these belts or chains being driven by any suitable gearingas, for instance, the worms indicated at 25 and the worm-wheels mounted on the shafts carrying the pulley 26, about which the belts 24 travel. Power may be applied to the worms from any suitable source, as by means of a band passing about the pulley 27.

Drying-rolls may be added to section 10 substantially in the manner indicated at 28 29. Motion may be transmitted to these through a belt or chain, as 30, which likewise may be driven from the worm-shaft, as ind icated. Under these drying-rolls a trough, as 31, may be placed, which, if desired, may be connected to the trough 23, as shown in Fig. 2.

The sections 9 and 10 are preferably re-.

movably joined one to the other, as by means of the bars or plates 32.

The belts 18 and 20 serve as electrodes in the waterproofing or dye-setting circuit and between them the fabric to be operated upon is passed, as more clearly seen in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the upper portion of belt 18 rests upon the metallic strips 14: and is thereby placed in circuit. It will also be noted that the lower portion of the belt 20 lies upon the cloth or fabric, and the latter being wet a path for the circuit is formed through it between said belts. Electrical connection to the belt 20 may be effected in any suitable way, as by placing under its upper portion a metallic roller, as 33, to which one terminal of the electric circuit may be connected, as by means of a binding-post 34.

The electric circuits of the apparatus will best be explained by reference to Fig. 4.

Therein the source of current is indicated at 35, and from it current is led to the polechanging switch 36. This switch is of the ordinary form, and its construction and operation are apparent from the illustration. From this switch the conductor 37 leads, respectively, to the'belt 18 of section 9, to belt 20 of section 10, and to plate 6 of the bath 5, while from the other terminal of the switch circuit is led, respectively, by means of conductor 38 to belt 20 of section 9, to belt 18 of section 10, and to plate 7 of bath 5. A suitable voltmeter, as indicated at 39, may be inserted in the circuit, and a suitable ammeter, as indicated at 40, may be placed in shunt across the circuit; also, in each branch of the circuit resistances, as 41, 42, and 43, may be inserted,whereby to regulate the amount of on rrent flowing over each of the couples, which, as will be seen, are arranged in multiple.

For the purpose of rendering a piece of fabric waterproof or water-repellent it is placed first in the bath 5, containing a solution of metallic salts capable of producing insoluble oxids by electrolysis and the current allowed to flow through said bath for a time sufficient to thoroughly impregnate the fabric with the salts of said solution or with the metallic oxid therefrom, when one end of the fabric may then be inserted between the plates 18 and 20 of section 9. The fabric will then be fed forward through said section and through section 10, between the bolts 18 and 20 thereof, said fabric passing from section 10 through the drying-rolls 28 29. It will be noted that as the fabric is in transit through the apparatus the current is, flowing through it in one section from the upper belt to the and being preferably subject to a minimum amount of oxidation. For this purpose said electrodes are preferably formed of some alloy of copper, such as nickel-bronze or aluminium-bronze.

Before inserting the fabric between the electrodes or belts 18 and 20 any oxid Which may have formed thereon should be removed. This may be readily done by reversing the current through them by means of the switch 36. The oxid driven from the belts in this manner is deposited in the trough 23. After passing the piece of cloth through the apparatus the current should be reversed, as above stated, and the plates freed from oxid but while the fabric is passing through the apparatus the current should not be reversed.

The passage of the current through the bath 5 greatly facilitates the treatment of the fabric, and though it is not definitelyknown just what the action is that takes place in the bath it has been settled by practice that a highlybeneficial result is produced by the use of the bath in the manner described.

For fixing the dies in the fabric the apparatus is used substantially in the manner above set forth, the metallic salts being applied to the fabric either with thedye oradded to an already-dyed fabric by means of the bath-5 in the manner above described for waterproofing. The electric current acting upon the salts apparently produces the effect of-a mordant in making the dye permanent.

In preparing the solution of salts for-bath- 5 the color of the goods to be-treated must'b e considered. For white goods a soluble salt of any suitable metal--such,for instance,as aluminiumthat will produce a whiteoxidmay be used, while for dark goods a soluble salt i of any metal, such as iron, that will produce a dark oxid may be employed, and for goods of other colors the soluble salt of a suitable metal such as will not change the colormay be chosen in accordance with well-known coloring properties of metals. By the term metallic salt or salts I mean to include all the soluble salts which are capable under electrolytic action of giving outan insoluble oxid of a metal.

The apparatus shown has proven' satisfactory in effecting the invention set forth, though the process may be carried out in any other form of apparatus. It is obvious also that instead of using two sections in which the current traverses the fabric in opposite directions and whereby the treatment of the stices of the fabric, whereby the fabric is rendered waterproof.

2. The process of waterproofing fabric and fixing the dye therein, which consists in impregnating the fabric with metallic salt or salts, capable of yielding an insoluble oxid upon electrolysis by placing said fabric in a solution of said salt or salts and passing an electric current through the solution, and then removing the fabric from the solution and passing an electric current through the fabric.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 2d day of May, A. D. 1899.

JEAN THEODORE VAN GESTEL.

Witnesses:

WM. H. CAPEL, DELBERT H. DECKER. 

